Forecast is brighter, but shadow cast by health care reform

Mark Schniepp, principal of the California Economic Forecast, greets guests before things get started at the 2014 Ventura County Real Estate & Economic Outlook Conference held in Westlake Village on Thursday morning.

Businesses that have been putting off expansion: "If you're going to do something, this is the time to do it," Mark Schniepp advised Thursday during his semiannual outlook conference.